gardenhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/taxonomy/term/6173/all
enFriends House garden transformedhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23031
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<p>The newly re-landscaped garden at Friends House is a welcoming space for reflection, say Quakers in Britain. With planting and design inspired by a poem by Waldo Williams, it speaks of Quakerism, of peace, equality, simplicity and truth.</p>
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<p>The newly re-landscaped garden at Friends House is a welcoming space for reflection, say Quakers in Britain. With planting and design inspired by a poem by Waldo Williams, it speaks of Quakerism, of peace, equality, simplicity and truth.</p>
<p>Work is in the final stages. Lifts and pathways are being completed shortly. The redesigned garden gives easier access for all to Friends House, with gradients suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users.</p>
<p>The need to install an electricity substation was an opportunity to replace steep ramps with gentler slopes. A lift is designed to enable all visitors to access the lower ground floor and the restaurant, while a glass bridge leads directly into the Quaker Centre café and worship space.</p>
<p>The redesign also gives outdoor seating, cycle parking and recycling bin store.</p>
<p>The scheme could help Friends House, home of Quakers in Britain, become an increasingly significant resource for the Camden community as plans for redevelopment around Euston progress.</p>
<p>Paul Grey, head of Friends House Hospitality Company said, “Our new garden provides an accessible quiet space in the bustle of central London. It is an exciting addition to the hugely improved conference facilities we offer in Friends House."</p>
<p>Much of the planning is symbolic including olive trees as symbols of peace, blossoming amelanchier lamarkiis, emblematic of native Americans, rosemary for remembrance and lunaria for honesty. Wendy Price, of Headington Local Meeting, a horticulturalist and design consultant, developed the concept on seeing the garden as “a piece of visual outreach celebrating Quakers". She took her inspiration from the poetry of Waldo Williams and his "sea of light" quotation in the poem in <em>In Two Fields</em></p>
<p>Lavender plants will attract two thriving colonies of bees which have been kept on the roof of Friends House, since last summer, producing honey. Rain water harvesting will help irrigate the garden.</p>
<p>Wendy Price's vision to create a space for reflection has been developed by John McAslan + Partners, whose gardening work has been overseen by Melissa Jolly.</p>
<p>The garden welcomes visitors, including many passengers heading through it to Euston Station. They tread a pathway, carved with a timeline of more than twenty key Quaker dates highlighting significant points through three centuries, from persecution to permission to worship and marry; and commitment to tackle issues around slavery, landmines, mental health, justice, sexuality and sustainability.</p>
<p><strong>Stepping back in time</strong></p>
<p>1647 George Fox recognises God's light is within everyone</p>
<p>1661 Quakers present their peace testimony to Charles II</p>
<p>1755 Quaker marriage becomes legal</p>
<p>1758 Quakers begin campaigning to abolish slavery</p>
<p>1813 Elizabeth Fry starts her prison reform work at Newgate Prison</p>
<p>1890s Fair-trading Quaker banks Barclays and Lloyds thrive</p>
<p>1938 Quakers evacuate children from Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport</p>
<p>1997 Quakers work at the UN to bring about landmine ban treaty</p>
<p>2009 British Quakers campaign for same-sex marriage</p>
<p>2014 Quakers in Britain disinvest from fossil fuels</p>
<p>There will be stories to read around these significant events and dates. Visitors to the website will be able to read and watch as the garden matures through the seasons.</p>
<p>The timeline and a time capsule will bridge the generations, past, present and future. Young Quakers created a time capsule for burial in May. They looked ahead 100 years and chose contents to illustrate the kind of world young Quakers want to see in 2116. The contents include a peace flag, solar charger, campaign Tshirts and some 'Honesty' seeds.</p>
<p>*More about the Quaker timeline <a target="_blank" title="Quaker timeline" href="http://www.quaker.org.uk/about-quakers/our-history">here</a></p>
<p>* Read Waldo Willims' poem <em>In Two Fields</em> <a target="_blank" title="In Two Fields" href="http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/english-translations-of-passages-in-welsh/">here</a></p>
<p>* Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Around 23,000 people attend 478 Quaker meetings in Britain. Their commitment to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change.</p>
<p>*Quakers in Britain <a href="http://www.quaker.org.uk/" title="http://www.quaker.org.uk/">http://www.quaker.org.uk/</a></p>
<p>[Ekk/4]</p>
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Beliefs and ValuesNews Briefequalityfriends housegardenPeacequakers in britainsimplicitytruthUK NewsFri, 06 May 2016 09:07:07 +0000agency reporter23031 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukGrow your own organic vegetables http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/lifestyle/going_green/grow_your_own_vegetables
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<p>Growing your own vegetables, whether in your back garden, in a local allotment or just in window boxes, has become a popular past time – particularly for those who want to live simply, sustainably and healthily.</p>
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<p><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?CTY=1&amp;CID=7899"><img src="http://b1.perfb.com/b1.php?ID=7899&amp;PURL=naturalcollection.at/ekklesia" border="0" align="left" hspace="5" /></a></p>
<p>Growing your own vegetables, whether in your back garden, in a local allotment or just in window boxes, has become a popular past time – particularly for those who want to live simply, sustainably and healthily. </p>
<p>And now spring is in the air, if you are keen to roll up your sleeves and get involved in growing your own, but don’t where to start, read on! <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?CTY=3&amp;CID=257">Natural Collection</a>, one of the internet’s premier ethical and organic retailers, has a great selection of products that will make getting your hands dirty easy - but also great fun, even if you are in the smallest flat or apartment.</p>
<p>• <strong><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/tomato-patio-planters---pack-of-3/">Pack of 3 Tomato (Bush &amp; Trailing) Patio Planters</a></strong></p>
<p>These tomato patio planters make growing your fresh and tasty tomatoes so easy that you’ll never look back. They are tough, reusable, don’t require digging, and can fit into the smallest of spaces. You’ll even find a growing guide to help you get started. <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/tomato-patio-planters---pack-of-3/">Find out more</a></p>
<p>• <strong><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/pack-of-2-strawberry---herb-patio-planters/">Pack of 2 Strawberry &amp; Herb Patio Planters</a></strong></p>
<p>We’re just entering springtime now, and there isn’t a better time to plant your strawberries. These strawberry and herb patio planters do the work for you, so that come summer, all you have to do is remember to pick your own fresh daily crop! Again, these planters are durable, easy to use, and require no digging. They also include a growing guide. <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/pack-of-2-strawberry---herb-patio-planters/">Find out more</a></p>
<p>• <strong><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/potato-planters---pack-of-3/">Discover No Dig Potato Planters (Pack of 3)</a></strong></p>
<p>Even GI dieters will tell you that everyone needs some carbohydrate in their diet. And fresh, new potatoes are probably the best kind, which is great because now you can grow your own with a minimum of fuss. These potato patio planters require no digging and are reusable. They also take up so little space, that even if you live in a high-rise apartment you can grow your own!<br />
<a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/potato-planters---pack-of-3/">Find out more</a></p>
<p>• <strong><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/rocket-gardens/instant-small-vegetable-garden/">Rocket Garden Small ‘Instant’ Vegetable Garden</a></strong> </p>
<p>Now here’s a really great product – the ‘Instant’ Vegetable Garden from Natural Collection will provide you with a 155 young plants of a 11 different varieties which you can be eating in no more than two months’ time. All you will require is a space of 10m2, and one weekend to dig your garden. The plants are grown entirely naturally, and are packaged in fully biodegradable pots.<br />
<a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/rocket-gardens/instant-small-vegetable-garden/">Find out more</a></p>
<p>• <strong><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/fsc-certified-oak-plant-house/">Solid FSC Oak Plant House and Cold Frame</a></strong></p>
<p>If you’ve got a little bit more space, you might want to consider this stylish, high quality plant house and cold frame. Its light and easily assembled frame will last you for years to come, providing you with the perfect climate to raise seedlings, plugs and cuttings, or over-winter young plants.<br />
<a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/haxnicks/fsc-certified-oak-plant-house/">Find out more</a></p>
<p>• <strong>Draper Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Hand <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/draper-tools/draper-tools-stainless-steel-heavy-duty-hand-weeding-fork/">Weeding Fork</a> and <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/draper-tools/draper-tools-stainless-steel-heavy-duty-hand-trowel/">Hand Trowel</a></strong> </p>
<p>Although these Draper hand weeding forks and trowels are relatively low-cost, they will last you a lifetime. They are made by Draper, a family firm with nearly 90 years’ of experience making high quality tools. They are made from heavy-duty stainless steel, and ash wood that’s sourced from FSC certified forests. <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/products/draper-tools/draper-tools-stainless-steel-heavy-duty-hand-weeding-fork/">Find out more</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?CTY=3&amp;CID=257">To find out more about growing your own vegetables, and to explore the full range of Natural Collection gardening products click here.</a></strong></p>
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Living EconomygardengardeningGoing GreenorganicvegetablesLifestyleTue, 24 Mar 2009 22:00:01 +0000staff writers9034 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukSolar powered water features for your gardenhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/lifestyle/shopping/solar_powered_water_features
<div class="image-attach-teaser image-attach-node-7472" style="width: 200px;"><a href="/lifestyle/shopping/solar_powered_water_features"><img src="http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/sites/ekklesia.co.uk/files/files/images/solar_powered_water_feature2.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-thumbnail " width="200" height="150" /></a></div>
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<p>Where to find solar powered water features for your garden</p>
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<p>If you are looking to enhance your garden this summer, then why not choose a solar powered water feature or fountain?</p>
<p>Solar water features mean you don't have the hassle of having to connect them to a mains electricity supply, but also being solar powered they are also kind to the environment, and cost a lot less to run.</p>
<p>There are a range of high quality solar powered water features for your garden, some with remote controls, at the Natural Collection <a href="http://naturalcollection.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.naturalcollection.com/search/Solar-powered-water-features/">here.</a></p>
<p>You can also get a wide range of cheaper solar powered water features, and solar powered fountains for your garden at the Ethical Superstore <a href="http://ethicalshop.at/ekklesia?DURL=http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/search/Solar-powered-water-features/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Alternatively to can compare prices on solar-powered water features <a href="http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=3431&amp;a=980712&amp;g=11468138&amp;url=http://shopping.kelkoo.co.uk/ctl/do/search?siteSearchQuery=solar+powered+water+feature&amp;fromform=true&amp;kpartnerid=96905366">here</a></p>
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Living Economygardengarden fountainshoppingsolar powersolar powered fountainsolar powered water featurewater featureLifestyleWed, 09 Jul 2008 16:44:01 +0000staff writers7471 at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk